"Now form-filling is taking nurses away from their patients for longer and longer. Under this Government, close to 5,000 nursing posts have been axed, with over 800 going in the last month alone.

"On understaffed wards, a nurse's time becomes increasingly precious - they must be free to care for patients. Ministers must stop the job losses and ensure all hospitals have enough staff to provide safe care."

Health minister Dr Dan Poulter said the coalition Government has significantly cut the amount of red tape in the NHS and is examining how to reduce bureaucracy further.

He added: "NHS staff need to be free to do what we were trained to do - look after patients, so patients not paperwork must be our NHS's priority."